Pa.'s BANNED fish and aquatic animals

Pennsylvania has banned 11 aquatic species for sale, barter, possession or transportation in the state. According to the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission these creatures "have harmful effects on the natural resources in these ecosystems and the human uses of these resources."

PHOTO: USGS

Here are Pa.'s 11 banned fish and aquatic animals. They are listed in alphabetical order.

PHOTO: minn.gov

1. Bighead carp, Hypophtalmichtys nobilis: The Bighead carp is one of three types of Asian carp banned in Pennsylvania. It has been found in the Ohio River Basin and Lake Erie.

PHOTO: USGS

These invasive fish have a devastating effect on waterways. They can grow to more than 5 feet in length and in excess of 100 pounds.

PHOTO: USGS

The fish are highly reproductive, damage habitat and consume food year round. They are filter feeders, removing plankton from the water in large amounts, often out-competing native fish and mussels, which eat the same food.

PHOTO: USGS

2. Black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus: Like the Bighead carp, the voracious Black carp can grow to more than 5 feet in length and has been weighed at more than 150 pounds. It has not yet been found in Pa. waters.

PHOTO: Rob Cosgriff

Black carp tax native mussel and snail populations. Native species, such as ducks, turtles and some mammals, that also eat mussels and snails can go hungry. Black carp may also carry pathogens that harm other native species, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

PHOTO: Rob Cosgriff

3. European rudd, Scardinius erythropthalmus: This fish is a medium-sized fish with a forked tail. It has been found in the Susquehanna River, Lake Erie and the Ohio River.

PHOTO: ne.gov

European Rudd competes with native fish for invertebrate food sources. It is also a hardy survivor in polluted waters, where it can outlast native fish.

PHOTO: sd.gov

There is also concern that the European Rudd will cross breed with native golden shiners resulting in a new hybrid with unknown consequences.

PHOTO: sd.gov

4. Quagga mussel, Dreissena bugensis: Quagga mussels can make water clearer, but also rob it of oxygen. They have been found in Lake Erie and the Delaware River.

PHOTO: NPS

The mussels reproduce rapidly and are also filter feeders, removing substantial amounts of plankton from the water and the food chain.

5. Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus: Round gobies have been found in Lake Erie. Many areas where they are can best be described as "infested," according to the USGS.

PHOTO: USGS

Round gobies can become a dominant fish species. They are very aggressive and compete with native fish for food and space.

PHOTO: USGS

6. Ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernuus: Ruffe have been found in the Great Lakes. They can reduce populations of the popular Yellow Perch by preying on their young.

PHOTO: USGS

7. Rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus: Rusty crayfish are easily spotted. The sides of their bodies display a distinctive rust-colored splotch. They have been found in the lower Susquehanna River, the Juniata, the Little Juniata and the Ohio River.

PHOTO: ne.gov

The crustaceans reproduce in large numbers and reduce lake and stream vegetation, which eliminates cover for many natural fish.

PHOTO: md.gov

The Rusty crayfish may also reduce the native crayfish populations.

PHOTO: sd.gov

8. Silver carp, Hypophtalmichtys molitrix: You've probably seen video of this invasive fish leaping out of the water at the sound of a boat motor. The fish has been found in the lower Ohio River.

PHOTO: USFWS

Related to the Bighead and Black carp, the Silver carp can weigh up to 50 pounds. The jumping fish has injured humans travelling at high speeds in boats.

PHOTO: USGS

Silver carp are also filter feeders, gorging on phytoplankton. They remove the nutrients in vast amounts, often causing native fish to starve.

PHOTO: USGS

9. Snakehead, ALL SPECIES: The snakehead has probably spawned more headlines (and B-movies) than any other invasive species in Pennsylvania.

PHOTO: md.

The Snakehead has been found in the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers.

PHOTO: md.gov

Pa. authorizes say if you catch a Snakehead – DO NOT put it back in the water. You are advised to kill it, freeze it and contact the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission at 610-847-2442. You should also make a note of the location where it was captured.

PHOTO: Philadelphia Water Dept.

The Snakehead is a tough competitor and can prey on many native fish. The fish can also breathe out of the water and survive extremely low oxygen levels in water.

PHOTO: Philadelphia Water Department

The Tubenose goby eats the same food as rainbow darters and may be out-competing it for its food supply.

PHOTO: NOAA

11. Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha: Zebra mussels are established in all of the Great Lakes and most of the large navigable rivers in the eastern U.S., according to the USGS.

PHOTO: NOAA

"Zebra mussels are notorious for their biofouling capabilities by colonizing water supply pipes of hydroelectric and nuclear power plants, public water supply plants, and industrial facilities. They colonize pipes constricting flow, therefore reducing the intake in heat exchangers, condensers, fire fighting equipment, and air conditioning and cooling systems," according to a USGS fact sheet.

PHOTO: FWS

The mussels are also known for coating docks and the hulls of, increasing drag, resulting in increased fuel costs.

In some cases, swarming zebra mussels have sunk navigational buoys.

PHOTO: NOAA

The mussels also wreak havoc on the native habitats they invade. The plankton eating organisms siphon off the nutrients causing competing native animals to starve. The impact has a trickle-down effect throughout the food chain.

Pennsylvania has banned 11 aquatic species for sale, barter, possession or transportation in the state. According to the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission these creatures "have harmful effects on the natural resources in these ecosystems and the human uses of these resources."

PHOTO: USGS

Here are Pa.'s 11 banned fish and aquatic animals. They are listed in alphabetical order.

PHOTO: minn.gov

1. Bighead carp, Hypophtalmichtys nobilis: The Bighead carp is one of three types of Asian carp banned in Pennsylvania. It has been found in the Ohio River Basin and Lake Erie.

PHOTO: USGS

These invasive fish have a devastating effect on waterways. They can grow to more than 5 feet in length and in excess of 100 pounds.

PHOTO: USGS

The fish are highly reproductive, damage habitat and consume food year round. They are filter feeders, removing plankton from the water in large amounts, often out-competing native fish and mussels, which eat the same food.

PHOTO: USGS

2. Black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus: Like the Bighead carp, the voracious Black carp can grow to more than 5 feet in length and has been weighed at more than 150 pounds. It has not yet been found in Pa. waters.

PHOTO: Rob Cosgriff

Black carp tax native mussel and snail populations. Native species, such as ducks, turtles and some mammals, that also eat mussels and snails can go hungry. Black carp may also carry pathogens that harm other native species, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

PHOTO: Rob Cosgriff

3. European rudd, Scardinius erythropthalmus: This fish is a medium-sized fish with a forked tail. It has been found in the Susquehanna River, Lake Erie and the Ohio River.

PHOTO: ne.gov

European Rudd competes with native fish for invertebrate food sources. It is also a hardy survivor in polluted waters, where it can outlast native fish.

PHOTO: sd.gov

There is also concern that the European Rudd will cross breed with native golden shiners resulting in a new hybrid with unknown consequences.

PHOTO: sd.gov

4. Quagga mussel, Dreissena bugensis: Quagga mussels can make water clearer, but also rob it of oxygen. They have been found in Lake Erie and the Delaware River.

PHOTO: NPS

The mussels reproduce rapidly and are also filter feeders, removing substantial amounts of plankton from the water and the food chain.

5. Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus: Round gobies have been found in Lake Erie. Many areas where they are can best be described as "infested," according to the USGS.

PHOTO: USGS

Round gobies can become a dominant fish species. They are very aggressive and compete with native fish for food and space.

PHOTO: USGS

6. Ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernuus: Ruffe have been found in the Great Lakes. They can reduce populations of the popular Yellow Perch by preying on their young.

PHOTO: USGS

7. Rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus: Rusty crayfish are easily spotted. The sides of their bodies display a distinctive rust-colored splotch. They have been found in the lower Susquehanna River, the Juniata, the Little Juniata and the Ohio River.

PHOTO: ne.gov

The crustaceans reproduce in large numbers and reduce lake and stream vegetation, which eliminates cover for many natural fish.

PHOTO: md.gov

The Rusty crayfish may also reduce the native crayfish populations.

PHOTO: sd.gov

8. Silver carp, Hypophtalmichtys molitrix: You've probably seen video of this invasive fish leaping out of the water at the sound of a boat motor. The fish has been found in the lower Ohio River.

PHOTO: USFWS

Related to the Bighead and Black carp, the Silver carp can weigh up to 50 pounds. The jumping fish has injured humans travelling at high speeds in boats.

PHOTO: USGS

Silver carp are also filter feeders, gorging on phytoplankton. They remove the nutrients in vast amounts, often causing native fish to starve.

PHOTO: USGS

9. Snakehead, ALL SPECIES: The snakehead has probably spawned more headlines (and B-movies) than any other invasive species in Pennsylvania.

PHOTO: md.

The Snakehead has been found in the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers.

PHOTO: md.gov

Pa. authorizes say if you catch a Snakehead – DO NOT put it back in the water. You are advised to kill it, freeze it and contact the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission at 610-847-2442. You should also make a note of the location where it was captured.

PHOTO: Philadelphia Water Dept.

The Snakehead is a tough competitor and can prey on many native fish. The fish can also breathe out of the water and survive extremely low oxygen levels in water.

PHOTO: Philadelphia Water Department

The Tubenose goby eats the same food as rainbow darters and may be out-competing it for its food supply.

PHOTO: NOAA

11. Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha: Zebra mussels are established in all of the Great Lakes and most of the large navigable rivers in the eastern U.S., according to the USGS.

PHOTO: NOAA

"Zebra mussels are notorious for their biofouling capabilities by colonizing water supply pipes of hydroelectric and nuclear power plants, public water supply plants, and industrial facilities. They colonize pipes constricting flow, therefore reducing the intake in heat exchangers, condensers, fire fighting equipment, and air conditioning and cooling systems," according to a USGS fact sheet.

PHOTO: FWS

The mussels are also known for coating docks and the hulls of, increasing drag, resulting in increased fuel costs.

In some cases, swarming zebra mussels have sunk navigational buoys.

PHOTO: NOAA

The mussels also wreak havoc on the native habitats they invade. The plankton eating organisms siphon off the nutrients causing competing native animals to starve. The impact has a trickle-down effect throughout the food chain.